Anna Tunnicliffe of the United States competes in the laser radial medal race of the Beijing Olympic Games sailing event in Olympic co-host city Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 19, 2008. Anna Tunnicliffe of the United States claimed the title in this event. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Anna Tunnicliffe of the United States competes in the laser radial medal race of the Beijing Olympic Games sailing event in Olympic co-host city Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 19, 2008. Anna Tunnicliffe of the United States claimed the title in this event. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    QINGDAO, China, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Anna Tunnicliffe from the United States was crowned Laser Radial champion at the Olympic Sailing Regatta here on Tuesday.

    Having already been in the box seat going into the medal race, world No. 1 Tunnicliffe, with a seven-point advantage over her nearest rival, started with 8th and 9th finishes by the first and second mark respectively. She battled back to 3rd by the third mark and kept the rhythm till the finishing line, gaining 37 points overall.

    "I had a really bad start. It was very hard to focus when my competitors were gaining points on me. At the last mark, I saw a big puff at the left side of the course, and I said to myself, 'I already have a medal, so why don't I give it a try?' I went to the left and moved to the front of the fleet," said 25-year-old Tunnicliffe.

    Speaking of her first gold in her first Olympics, Tunnicliffe couldn't hide her excitement. "This is phenomenal. It's absolutely unbelievable. I've been wanting this for many years. It is a dream come true."

    Gintare Volungeviciute from Lithuania, finishing first in the medal race, took the silver with 42 points. For the first half of the race she had been in a gold medal winning position, but despite coming so close to Olympic victory she was still delighted with her success, not least becoming the first Lithuanian ever to win a medal in sailing at the Olympic Games

    "I am very proud of myself to get the first Olympic sailing medal for my country. I have to say Anna is the strongest. I am very satisfied with my result," she said.

    World No. 2 Xu Lijia of China, the bronze medallist, also made history for her country. With 50 points overall, she gained the first medal for the host nation in Qingdao and the first ever Olympic medal in the Laser Radial class.

    "I'm very happy to get the first medal for the Chinese sailing team. I hope there will be more new Chinese faces at international sailing arenas," said a beaming Xu.

    "After 11 years of hardship, I finally got what I waited for. I hope this is only the beginning. I hope I can get better results in the future. I would like to see more Chinese youths getting involved in sailing," said 20-year-old Xu, who started sailing at the age of 10.

    Speaking of the home soil applaud, Xu said "I was so excited when the people on the breakwater shouted to me. I experienced what I saw on TV when other Chinese medallists received their medals."

    In 2006, Xu became the first Chinese sailor to win a Laser Radial class world title after her victory at the Laser Radial World Championships in California.